The initial fate of a major provision in Indiana’s newest anti-abortion law will be decided soon.
The state in court Monday over whether the law should be stopped from taking effect July 1.
At issue is a new law, HB 1577, which forces doctors to tell patients about a so-called “abortion reversal” protocol that could purportedly halt the effects of a medication abortion after taking the first of two abortion-inducing drugs.
The state’s witnesses in court included the doctor, George Delgado, who coined the term “abortion reversal” and has done many of the studies the state cites as evidence of its success. He said existing studies and his experience do not prove, although they suggest, that abortion reversal is safe and effective.
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Several abortion providers suing the state countered with an expert who called the state’s new law “deeply distressing” and “mortifyingly harmful.” That expert, OBGYN Courtney Schreiber, echoed several of the physicians who testified in legislative hearings on the measure, saying there is no evidence to prove abortion reversal is safe and effective.
Federal Judge James Patrick Hanlon said he’ll get his initial ruling out “as soon as possible,” noting the law takes effect July 1.
Contact reporter Brandon at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.
